Social Networks Break Earthquake News First

Many may be shaken by the fact that the first news out of a 5.8 earthquake in Southern California shortly after noon Tuesday came from live streaming tweets on Twitter.

Even more stunning are the thousands of first-hand accounts that streamed in to the service shortly after the earthquake -- all tweets confirming the authors were both okay and had electricity and/or cellphone service.

With this unfortunate natural disaster, social networks may have just proven its worth beyond fun and quirky notes about moods, feelings or what you're doing on vacation. As shown today, the statuses can also be used for posting your health status, location and first-hand information after an emergency instantly to all of your friends and family. Some sample tweets:

jeherv: fascinated that my first news of the la earthquake was someone's facebook status....

apollo18: according to the Twitterverse, there was a 5.8 earthquake outside of San Diego

ashley_: my first earthquake, hope it never happens again

famous58: earthquake allows me to test my cell network....once again sprint service is superior to the other big two.

SheridanHaskell: Wow, I didn't know I followed so many people from California. Took an earthquake for me to find out.

DanielScotti: Earthquake! In chino. God tipped about 4000 Cows! Woo

marklee3d: 5.6 earthquake hit a little east of here. We're all ok. Can't say we didn't rock this town..

aphoenix: is still a bit light-headed from the OMG!!!EARTHQUAKE, but otherwise peachy.

I'll be writing social networks into my family's emergency preparedness plan. Stay safe down there, California.